Come, Follow Me
What is the priesthood?

What is the priesthood?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of our Heavenly Father. Through the priesthood, God created and governs the heavens and earth. Through this power He redeems and exalts His children. He gives worthy priesthood holders authority to administer ordinances of salvation. All of Heavenly Father’s children can qualify to receive these ordinances and access the power and blessings of the priesthood.

Resources to Help You Prepare

These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

What do you know about the priesthood? What do you feel inspired to learn about the priesthood?

Do the young women see the relevance of the priesthood in their lives? What could you do before class to find out what each young woman knows about the priesthood? How might this influence what you decide to teach?

What can the young women do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

The Savior used the scriptures to teach and testify about His mission. He taught His disciples to turn to the scriptures for answers to questions and to receive spiritual strength. In what ways can you encourage the young women to turn to the scriptures to find answers to their questions and challenges?

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

Led by a member of the class presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

  • Our class: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?

  • Our responsibilities: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?

  • Our lives: Remind the class of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?

If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a class presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the class; approximately 25–35 minutes

After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help class members understand the doctrine.

  • In his talk “Walk with Me,” President Henry B. Eyring shared several scriptures that he said can “deepen our sense of awe regarding the holy priesthood” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 82–83). Ask each young woman to study one of these scriptures and then tell the class what she learned about the priesthood. Give the young women several minutes to ponder the questions President Eyring asked in the paragraph that begins “One way to respond to such awe-inspiring descriptions.” How do these questions inspire them in their service?

  • Ask the young women to list ways in which people in the world gain power (money, education, popularity, good looks, and so on). Read together Doctrine and Covenants 121:34–46, and ask the young women to list the principles upon which priesthood power is based. Contrast the world’s way of obtaining power and the Lord’s way. How does knowing about these principles affect the way the young women view the priesthood?

  • Invite some of the young women to read about the Aaronic Priesthood in True to the Faith (pages 3–4), and invite the others to read about the Melchizedek Priesthood (pages 101–2). Ask each young woman to share something she learned from what she read. Why do they feel it is important for young women to understand the priesthood?

  • Invite each young woman to read one of the sections of Elder Neil L. Andersen’s talk “Power in the Priesthood.” Then ask each young woman to share with the rest of the class what she learned about the priesthood and what it means to her.

  • Write on the board What blessings have come into your life because of the priesthood? Invite the young women to ponder this question and share their answers. Read the story about Elder Jeffrey D. Erekson in President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “The Powers of the Priesthood.” Encourage the young women to record stories about how the priesthood has blessed their families in their journals or in a My Family booklet. They could ask their parents or family members to help.

  • Invite the young women to read the section titled “Priesthood Quorums” on page 125 of True to the Faith. What are the similarities between how Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes are organized? What are the differences? Help the young women see that the women of the Church are organized after the pattern of the priesthood (see Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society [2011], 138).

3. Plan to Act

Led by a member of the class presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

  • Ask the young women to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a class to apply what they have learned?

  • Give the young women a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.

  • Remind the young women that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.